Boom!!

The shockwaves tore through the compound, carving an instant crater into its domain—like a nuclear bomb dropping on a city. Deadly waves of compressed air rippled outward, smashing into nearby houses. Windows cracked instantly, shards spraying inward with surgical precision.

Marie and her mother were hurled back onto the bed, their bodies slamming hard but not enough to throw them off. The blankets were yanked upward, wrapping around them as glowing lines of Glory traced over Marie's skin, flooding her with the medical assistance she desperately needed.

The soldiers weren't spared. They were blasted backward into the sitting room, ripples of energy slamming into their skulls. Faces contorted in terror as they clutched their heads, fearing the force would push inward and pulp their eyes.

Ross's attack had landed—pinpoint accurate—right on Zabi's head. If this were darts, it was a perfect twelve. There was no doubt about it. Zabi had been crushed by the blast.

Even so, Ross felt the backlash. The kinetic bomb lifted him clean off his feet, flinging him into a bed of flowers. Pain screamed through his body—but it was worth it. As long as he got what he wanted.

"What the fuck!" "Is Zabi alright?!" "He's dead!"

The soldiers muttered among themselves, sprawled across the ground like corpses. They'd landed without cushioning, skulls slamming into concrete. Some bled. Others were lucky enough not to. None of them had the guts to go outside and check. There was no way Zabi survived that.

Cough. Cough.

Ross snapped awake from a momentary blackout. Remnants of energy fell from the sky like glowing rain. Blood streamed from his nose, the ache in his forehead intensifying.

He turned his gaze toward where Zabi had been standing.

A massive, gaping hole stared back at him.

"Zabi has to be inside," Ross muttered.

He tried to stand—and failed. A violent surge of pain exploded from his shoulder, stopping him cold. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself up anyway, legs shaking, body trembling in shock.

Then he noticed it.

The ringing in his ears was gone.

Amidst the chaos, silence returned.

Who would've thought something as small as sound could overwhelm him so completely?

"My hypothesis was right."

The memory rushed back—every step of how he'd done it.

He had condensed the kinetic bomb to something too small for Zabi to notice. That's why he kept his hand back—to deceive him. The bomb shot skyward instantly. He'd calculated the angle perfectly so it would drop straight onto Zabi's position.

As it traveled through midair, it gathered kinetic energy—more and more—until all Ross had to do was keep his eyes off it. The rest came down to rapid zigzag movement, copied from watching how Thunderdash worked, combined with (#####).

The word has been silenced for now.

Curious—moving slowly, stiffly, like a zombie—Ross dragged himself toward the hole, one hand clutching his shattered shoulder.

And when the contents came into view, relief surged through him.

Zabi lay deep below, sprawled on his back. Blood masked his face. Beside him were long, rusted metal rods—ancient, buried there for years.

He didn't move.

He didn't breathe.

No sound.

All signs of life were gone.

Completely knocked out.

Ross exhaled, relief flooding him as he turned away.

"Mom… I avenged your death," he murmured, limping back toward the house.

Suddenly—

Snore!!

The sound sliced into him like a blade.

Hair stood on end. Eyes widened. Fingers trembled. His heart slammed violently against his ribs, racing like it wanted to escape his chest.

"What the fuck… he's still alive?!"

Ross spun back, rushing to confirm—only to be greeted by another snore. Louder this time.

Too loud.

Zabi was awake.

Mocking him.

Breaking him psychologically.

That was how twisted Zabi was. Just like the Genki—he enjoyed the battle.

"Ross… Ross… Ross…"

Zabi muttered his name mockingly.

As if the explosion meant nothing, he pushed himself up with one arm—fluid, controlled, like a martial artist. His hair shifted as he moved, though the rings threaded within looked different now. Damaged.

He wiped the blood from his nose, revealing the painful strain in his ribs.

Ross stayed silent, mind racing, reconstructing everything.

"If I said your attack didn't hurt me, I'd be lying," Zabi admitted. "And if you had three of those… this fight would've been over. But look at you—you can't make another."

"Impossible…" Ross whispered, shaking.

His thoughts shattered, words slipping loose and tumbling out of his mind.

Zabi laughed—deep and vicious—like a tribal chief reveling in slaughter.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

Three cracked rings dropped from his hair, clattering against stone. Their markings were damaged—split down the center.

"Be proud, warrior," Zabi said. "Your attack destroyed their worth. Those were my trump cards. But don't get excited—this fight is far from over."

He extended both hands toward the iron rods buried beside him.

Swing. Swing.

He ripped them free—one in each hand—as seven remaining rings ignited atop his head.

Three for neutralization.

One for melting metal.

One for his electrifying punch.

"The last two," Zabi continued, "are called the Potential Twins."

Ross stared down at him from the edge of the hole.

"They find the enemy's strongest attribute… and copy it."

Zabi grinned.

"I think you know where this is going."

"Endurance…" Ross realized. "My endurance is my strongest stat. That's how he survived."

"With that—and my other rings—I walked away with just a drop of blood," Zabi lied deliberately, twisting the knife deeper into Ross's confidence.

The iron in his hands began to melt.

Yet it didn't drip.

It held shape.

Like blades forged from molten lava.

Ross's breath hitched. It was his first time seeing something like this. Katanas—useless.

He tried to move.

His legs refused.

Burnout hit him at the worst possible moment.

Then it clicked.

Every time this happened before… he broke through it.

Upgraded.

Gained something monstrous.

"Humans are funny," Zabi muttered. "Everyone thinks they're the main character."

He crouched, preparing to leap.

"Luck doesn't make you special."

Vuu!!

Zabi launched out of the hole, laughter spilling from him, the same terrifying determination Ross had seen in the Genki.

Ross panicked.

"Move—move, damn it!!"

He screamed—not in his head this time. Out loud.

And then—

He felt it.

Strength surged back into him.

Instinct took over.

Two katanas materialized in his hands.

He raised them just in time.

SLASH!!

The collision exploded—sparks tearing into the night. Iron screamed against steel. Heat roared. Zabi's molten weapons burned straight through the blades.

Face to face.

Enemy versus enemy.

Pain ignored. Injuries forgotten.

"I won't give up until I make my father proud!" Ross shouted, forcing the blades forward.

The words amused Zabi—just enough.

"And who do you think I'm fighting for?!"

DING!!

The katanas shattered.

Ross spun, swinging with what little remained.

CLANG!

The iron rods met him midair.

"Aaahhh!!"

Agony tore through him.

Zabi carved into his chest, opening a deep, brutal wound. Blood poured freely as Ross lost balance.

Slash. Slash. Slash. Slash.

Four more cuts ripped through flesh midair.

Vision blurred.

Blood soaked everything.

Zabi stood confidently , molten iron glowing, smiling.

"It's impossible, impossible to win in this cursed world. Everytime I try to go forward, I get pushed back four steps. Am a joke, all talk and no show!"

THUD.

Ross hit the ground.

Numb.

Unable to feel his limbs.

SLASH!!

Zabi stabbed him.

"Aaah!"

The rod pinned him to the earth—point-blank through the chest. Heat boiled his blood.

Inside the house, Marie shed a single unconscious tear.

She knew.

Darkness swallowed him.

A light emerged.

Then a voice—his father's.

"My legacy has always been you kids."

"Dad… where are you?" Ross whispered.

Silence.

Then—

"Open your eyes."

Ross did.

Zabi stood over him again—iron rod raised.

Then—

Another voice.

Cold. Distant. Terrifying.

"Activate Executor Skill—Ice Spear."

Snap!!

BOOM!!

A spear the size of a car ripped through the air—

PHWA!!

It impaled Zabi from behind.

Eyes widened in pure terror.

BOOOM!!

He was launched through the fence, smashing onto the road.

"Fuck…?"

Ross turned—just in time to see a man approaching, orange afro bouncing slightly, coffee cup in hand, calm as if it were morning.

"Don't worry, Mr. Mutt," armstrong said casually.

"Leave him to me."

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